Antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the potential antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. enterica serovar Typhi) by in vitro methods. Methods: The partial inhibitory concentration (PIC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of the autoclaved honey (extracted from Apis indica hive by indigenous method) were determined for S. enterica serovar Typhi (n=8; from blood cultute), E. coli (n=5; from urine culture) and P. aeruginosa (n=5; from pus culture) isolates by in vitro methods. Results: The PICs of the honey tested for the isolates ranged 0.50%-1.25 % (v/v) for S. enterica serovar Typhi, 0.75%-1.50% (v/v) for E. coli and 1.00%-1.25 % (v/v) for P. aeruginosa, while the MICs ranged 1.75%–3.00% (v/v), 3.00%-3.50% (v/v) and 3.50% (v/v), respectively. The P. aeruginosa and E. coli isolates had MBC value of 4.00% (v/v); the S. enterica serovar Typhi showed MBCs in between 3.00% and 3.50% (v/v). The bactericidal activity of honey was achieved at concentration 3.00% (v/v) for S. enterica serovar Typhi and E. coli, and at 3.50% (v/v) for P. aeruginosa. Conclusions: The excellent antibacterial activity of honey against clinical bacterial isolates indicates the usefulness of honey in clinical practice against bacterial infection.